Key Highlights:
- Isack Hadjar expects a five-place grid penalty at Sepang after Red Bull exceeded the power-unit allocation limit.
- Red Bull is targeting another strong result after its first double podium since China 2024 in Baku.
- Hadjar says Sepang’s open layout will allow him to attack immediately after a cautious return from his wrist injury in Baku.
Isack Hadjar faces five-place grid penalty at Sepang
Red Bull Racing’s prospects of repeating its double podium from Baku will face an immediate test at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. The Baku result was Red Bull’s first double podium since China 2024, but Mercedes is expected to introduce its long-awaited upgrade for the W17, while Isack Hadjar has confirmed that he will serve a grid penalty.
Hadjar revealed the penalty at Sepang on Thursday when Motorsport.com asked whether Baku had represented Red Bull’s best opportunity to win this season, or whether the team’s upgrade package could create further chances before the end of the year.
“Yeah, it’s a bit of both,” he said. “I think Baku is definitely a track that would have suited our car anyway. The upgrade played its part, but I think going to a track with a more traditional layout, let’s say, is going to give us a better idea of where we really stand.
“I would expect us to be less competitive here due to the layout. But if we still manage to fight for a podium this weekend, that would be good. But it’s going to be difficult for me, you know. I should be taking a five-place penalty.”
Red Bull has not confirmed the power-unit component
Red Bull has not yet confirmed which power-unit component will be replaced for the race at Sepang. Under the allocation rules, a first breach of the limit brings a 10-place grid penalty, while each subsequent breach results in a five-place grid drop.
Hadjar has already exceeded the limit for every power-unit component this season. As a result, any further replacement will trigger a five-place penalty rather than the 10-place sanction applied to a first breach.
The penalty adds to the challenge facing Hadjar before the race weekend has fully begun. However, the Red Bull driver believes the circuit near Kuala Lumpur provides enough overtaking opportunities to recover positions if the car has the necessary race pace.
“But even with the penalty, I believe this is a track that if you have the race pace, you can go up. And if we can’t, then it means we’re not fast enough. So, that’s it,” he said.
Hadjar ready to attack after cautious Baku return
Hadjar also expects to approach the Sepang weekend more aggressively on a personal level. The Frenchman deliberately built up his pace step by step in Baku as he returned from a wrist injury, but he believes Sepang’s layout will allow him to push immediately.
“The layout makes it that you can go flat-out straight away,” said the Frenchman. “It’s an open track, there’s no walls really. So you go out to push it a lot earlier.
“In Baku, when you go over the limit, you are in the wall. I didn’t really fancy that, so I was taking it step by step. But this weekend is completely normal to me, so I need to take risks straight away.”
Why This Matters
Sepang will provide Red Bull with a clearer indication of whether its recent performance improvement can transfer from Baku’s specific characteristics to a more traditional circuit layout. The team must also assess its competitiveness against Mercedes’ upgraded W17 while Hadjar attempts to overcome a five-place grid drop.
The weekend therefore combines a technical test with a strategic recovery challenge. Red Bull’s race pace and Sepang’s overtaking opportunities could determine whether Hadjar can limit the effect of the penalty and whether the team can remain in podium contention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why will Isack Hadjar receive a five-place grid penalty?
Hadjar has exceeded the permitted allocation for every power-unit component this season. Any further replacement will therefore result in a five-place grid drop.
Which power-unit component will Red Bull replace?
Red Bull has not confirmed which power-unit component will be replaced for the race at the Sepang International Circuit.
Why is Sepang important for Red Bull?
Sepang’s more traditional layout will show whether Red Bull’s improved performance in Baku can be repeated on a different type of circuit, particularly with Mercedes bringing its long-awaited W17 upgrade.
